ABC Experts / Specialists

[Mark Q]

ABC Experts / Specialists 2004 R230 SL500

Hi, so the full story. Last year ABC decided that when I turned engine off it would lift the left rear quarter of the car, and then started to do this as it was driven and flag an ABC warning light.

Car went into a well known independent at Christmas for them to diagnose/fix. The result was two replacement remanufactured valve blocks. On taking the car home I checked the fluid level and the running height. The fluid level was about 10mm above max engine off, and one side of the car was 8-10mm higher than the other. This made me wonder if the person doing this job had the expertise I would have liked them to have when performing the work on such a sensitive/critical area. Also when parked on the drive which has a slight slope ABC fluid found its way onto the floor in positions of the two valves. I thought that was probably where the pipes had been disconnected and fluid had got onto undertray etc and then run down owing to the slope. I read on the internet (Don’t believe everything you read on the internet) mostly from this forum, that the over filled fluid would find its way out through the pressure relief hole in the dipstick, looking under bonnet there was witness that some had found its way out. After a couple of hundred miles there were no more witness marks on the ground, the fluid was still about 5-6mm above the max engine off. Come MOT day in Apr took the car, no issues drove home into garage, drove out a few days later puddle of ABC fluid in the floor 6-8” across. Checked fluid still above max. I know when this guy does his MOT’s he lifts on a lift that holds car on jacking points so wheels hang down and I wondered if either this or subsequently bringing the car down onto its wheels (I have no way of knowing if engine running or not nor when car lifted/lowered) had caused some surge in fluid levels resulting in relieving itself. Following this I Drove the car short distances and monitored floor and fluid levels

Fluid level appears to remain about 5 mm above full mark, after 1 week stood in garage nothing on floor, after standing for 2 weeks 4 or 5 spots appear from roughly under engine (Can’t tell source as there is a big undertray). I got back into habit doing my 100 mile drive away from home (97 miles motorway) stay a day then drive back, fluid level remains constant just above max drip/spots roughly the same as above if car left. . It is due service Sep and thought I’s get it checked then and the ride height reset correctly

On Sat 13th Aug, Midday temp 30 deg C did the 100 mile trip at 06:30 so temp 17C, Not sure if air temp has any bearing on this so quoted for the record, got out of car for 2 mins went back to it big puddle 10-12” of fluid underneath, I had to move the car from there otherwise it would have been at risk so drove another 200m to my final destination turned engine off got out opened bonnet fluid spatter on top of reservoir and engine cover, then it happened > the fluid started spurting from dipstick for around 5 – 10 seconds, scary stuff, then it stopped. I left the car in disgust knowing I was 100 miles away and in charge of making sure I got back in time for the dog. I went back to it after an hour and checked the level, (I have a litre I the boot but knew it needs much more) still above max engine off. Later it Got to the stage where I had to go home, Temp 30 C so checked level still above max, started engine, checked nothing coming out, stopped after a mile or so engine running checked nothing coming out, then drove home tentatively, got 200m from home and white ABC warning came on, finished trip, opened bonnet engine running there were more witness marks to fluid, turned engine off after a few sec then started to spurt for 5-10 sec from the dipstick, took photo. Left it, for a couple of hours checked it, then drove it into garage.



Since then there are maybe 8 or 9 spots on the floor, probably result of the spurting finding its way down, reservoir level still about 5mm above max on dipstick, I did start at the weekend in garage let it run for a couple of mins, raised and lowered it a couple of times, no warning lights no spurting, fluid level still above max. Not had time nor not brave enough to go for drive yet.

Questions to the house and any ABC experts, >>> accumulator ? or pump ? if accumulator can it be narrowed down or change all. Is it 2, 3or 4 ? I can’t seem to find a definitive answer from Mr Google. Part number A2203270115 / 415 ? Anyone know of any ABC specialists in the North West ? I won’t be doing myself but want to be aware of where this may lead, Where is John Laidlaw when you need him ? I know he had all sort of work done on his.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Craiglxviii]

The pressure relief hole in the dipstick will help bleed some air out of the circuits over time, but usually at the risk of big gobs of Pentosin squirting out with them.

If you have too much fluid it’s not difficult to draw some out, a puece of hose and 1/4” straight connector on the end of the return pipe into a bucket will do the job.

 

[Mark Q]

Craig, thanks , yes I've replaced the fluid in the system before, but as I said based on what I read I was expecting a bit but not what I saw that day, I probably should take some out, clean the area around it and drive it a bit to see what happens - I'm loosing my confidence in it, don't want to be waiting at side of motorway for a few hours until the tow truck arrives.

 

[ajlsl600]

Accumulator issue? . If continues to behave same way. Where on floor u see oil. Below tank or?

 

[alexanderfoti]

It does sound that potentially there is air in your system that is wreaking havvock. I would also have gone straight for valve blocks as this is the only thing that will cause the car to lower or raise.

The ride height is calibrated by the ride height sensors and a bit by the strut travel sensors so theoretically replacing the valve blocks should not affect ride height, but air in the system will.

At idle in Park, the lock valves are closed and the car is held on static pressure, even though the pump is building pressure. If the lock valves are leaking, the result is usually dropping but rising can also happen, depending on on the internal leak location.

I would think that there is air in the system that has not been bled out. If there isn't air, then there is an Accumulators that has partially failed and is taking on fluid, then releasing it back when engine is off (the rear based on your symptoms.)

 

[Craiglxviii]

Craig, thanks , yes I've replaced the fluid in the system before, but as I said based on what I read I was expecting a bit but not what I saw that day, I probably should take some out, clean the area around it and drive it a bit to see what happens - I'm loosing my confidence in it, don't want to be waiting at side of motorway for a few hours until the tow truck arrives.

Good comments already here. I should also point out that a little fluid goes a very long way, so that huge puddle you’re clearing up might only be 50ml…

 

[Mark Q]

Hi, hard to tell source of fluid on floor owing to things on the way down from the tank but suspect its form the reservoir, there has been witness on the inside of the bonnet before now. Seems to end up near rear of engine hole in undertray, wish I had more room or a four post lift
Oil is like blood, a little bit looks like a scary amount.
I understand all of the above, it just seems odd that it should occur to such an extent 3 times in one day - and always when furthest from home. Hopefully this time next week I will have some time to have a good look/play with it, will let you know if when I have.

 

[Mark Q]

So
Took it out on Sun. Before setting off cleaned area around reservoir, level still about 5mm above max. Drove 2 miles White ABC warning light as I touched brakes, pulled over opened bonnet no leakage, turned engine off no leakage restarted engine and got my glamourous assistant to cycle the raise lower 10-15 times (Didn’t count) no leaks but warning light came back on, it did appear to slow down in raising. Restarted to clear light Decided to take it home. As all appeared well decided to go past the end of the street and continue, up and down a bit of 60mph road to roundabout white when appears ABC warning light. Turned into an industrial estate with double yellow lines and stopped no leaks, turned engine off spewed fluid again. Let it settle, decided to now take it home, went to start it, car said no, tried a few times but engine not turning over, no warning lights present. Left Mrs Q there and ran home to get another car with jump leads, jump started and went the mile home again, drove straight into garage no extra leakage but now level just at bottom of max mark on dipstick. Really disheartened so went away in disgust, after putting front battery on charge. Really surprised no warning of that.

This is what car has deposited on the floor since Sun, when it last appeared to throw some out about a mile from home, maybe 5 or 6 spots were there before we took it out. Looks like I'll have to syphon some of the fuel out of the tank to fund some repairs.

 

[Charliecloud]

If you have not seen this series of videos on ABC angst, it's worth a look: